Page 39 of Frankie and the Fed

I smile and leave his office, hurrying to find Samantha. There’s little time for me to convince her. I find her in the cafeteria, along with several other reporters. I don’t like to interrupt, but I have no choice.

“Hey.” I stand in front of her.

She smiles at me with a surprised look on her face. She knows who I am, but I haven’t had a chance to really get to know her until now. I get straight to the point.

“I’m looking for someone to replace Liz for tomorrow’s event. She’s sick.”

Samantha looks interested. “What’s the article?”

“Olivia Danske’s store opening. She’s expanding into evening gowns and opening her own shop.”

Samantha’s eyes light up. “Danske? The famous wedding dress designer?”

I nod.

“Sounds great. Tomorrow you said? What’s the address?”

“The opening is in New York. There is a flight booked for this evening.”

She shrinks. “Oh. Sorry. But no thanks.”

“What? But a moment ago, you said you were interested.”

“That was before I realized I would have to fly. I don’t fly.”

“What? Why not?”

“I’m not entering those tight tin cans that are supposed to hold me in the air. Sorry, but you’d have to kill me to get me on a plane.”

Damn it. She seemed really excited. I glance around at the other reporters sitting at the table, pleading them with my eyes. They don’t look back at me.

“Jerry?”

“Sorry. I can’t fly on such short notice. I can’t leave my wife with the children like that. She would be furious.”

I bite my lip. “Okay, thanks.” I leave and hurry back to Toby’s office. What should I do? I can’t cancel. I can’t do that to Olive. This is not just an anonymous designer. This is a friend. A friend who supported me throughout the last year. And Claire is already waiting for the flight today. I knock on Toby’s door, and he invites me in.

“Well? Did you ask her?”

“She’s not willing to fly.” I twist my mouth in displeasure. “And neither can Jerry.”

“Look, I can’t force you to go. But we’ve already paid for the trip. Everything is set for tomorrow, and again, this was your idea.” He raises an eyebrow. “You were supposed to be the one going if you’ll remember.”

I understand very well what he’s saying between the lines. He wants me to take the story. And I guess if he didn’t know me, I’d be fired for refusing after I’d asked to go and convinced him this whole thing would be great for the magazine. I can tell him why I don’t want to go there, but it would sound like nothing more than an excuse. Ethan is just a man who didn’t want me anymore. What will it look like not taking a job because of my ex? Especially after I declared that the entire episode was behind me and promised it would never interfere with my job?

I close my eyes and inhale deeply. “Okay. You’re right. I’ll go.”

I can do it. I went through hell and survived. I can handle one man who doesn’t love me anymore. Even if his name is Ethan Wolf.

CHAPTER17

Ethan

“Olive.” I try to stop her from her endless fussing and bustling through the store. “Enough. You’re making me dizzy. Everything looks great.”

“It has to be perfect,” she says and continues to fuss with a display, arranging the balloons and the tables at just the right angles. The place is decorated in elegant white and silver, in coordination with the fact that most of the store is aimed at brides.

“I’m going outside,” I report, though she doesn’t seem to notice my existence at the moment. It’s fun to see her so excited. It even makes me a little excited, which I haven’t felt in a long time.